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Friday, November 11, 2011

Happy Veterans Day

To give the woman time to type up Part 2 of my Toy Story, I'd like to say a few words about Veterans Day. I think all of us, regardless of our political beliefs or opinions on war, thank our vets for their service and protection. The U.S. of A. is very good at sending our men and women to war, but sadly lacking when it comes time to take care of those men and women when they return. Young vets, between the ages of 18 to 21, have a 30.4 percent jobless rate vs. 9 percent overall. Unemployment among Veterans as a whole is 12.1 percent. FACT: 260,000 veterans will be homeless this year and the Department of Veterans Affairs can only reach about 20% of them.

Veterans also are not getting the medical care they need when they come home, both physical and mental. As many as 35 percent of Iraq Veterans have or will experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. There has to be a period of readjustment for the returning troops so they can get their lives back in order and that readjustment is made harder when these men and women are functioning at less than 100%. Many have been dumped by their spouses and are confused and despondent. Nobody wants to see bigger government but this great country needs to step in and provide funding for homeless and sick veterans.

Grandpa fought in WW2 and came home an alcoholic. When he got sick, it took the help of several local politicians to get him into a VA hospital. We have to make it easier for our returning heroes to get the care they need.

17 comments:

You nailed it, CK. Thank you to all the vets who have fought to keep us free at home. We need to help these brave men & women get their lives back together. Perhaps if you can, volunteer at a VA hospital.

Thanks so much for that! We absolutely MUST take care of the people who take care of us. I remember, also, early in the Iraq war when they didn't even provide body armor for the soldiers they sent... we were collecting money so that families could buy their children in the war adequate armor. It is very sad that they don't have the best of everything for all they do for us. But I guess that's what happens when you live in a country where it is more important to not pay taxes than look out for people.

Absolutely, CK! Since Vietnam, being a veteran is not a popular thing. Although more recently, people are showing support for the vets, that doesn't seem to translate into better "after care" for them as people. The military has money for all the latest toys, but can't seem to squeeze out anything for the folks who use them. As is true of any of the poor and disenfranchised.

Excellent post CK. Sorry we're so late reading it. Trying to get back on schedule now with reading blogs. You are so right with everything you said. We do need to treat our veterans better and provide extra, supportive help for the troops returning from a war situation.

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